“Luis, you’ve outdone yourself tonight,” said a man with a smooth, French-accented voice. “The crowd is delighted, and I cannot wait to see therest.”
Tomi glanced up at Francois, fighting to gather hercourage.
“François, how wonderful for you to join us. I didn’t know you were in the market,” Luis answered just as gallantly. The polite exchange made her want tovomit.
“Ah yes, I’ve brought my last little piece with me, but they just don’t make them like they used to. She’s reached the end of her usefulness to me and I’m looking to replace her tonight. This little gem is particularly interesting. Such finecraftsmanship.”
Leaning down, he tipped up Tomi’schin.
Tomi caught Luis’s brief, warning stare. It was now or never. Tomi bared her teeth and tried to bite Francois’ hand. He jerked away before she could sink in her teeth, and both men burst out laughing as if her reaction were a joke. “The perfect amount of responsiveness, my friend,” Luis said. “I tell you, you would enjoy her for a long, longtime.”
The man’s dark gaze rolled over her body as if he were caressing her with his hands. “She seems verywillful.”
“Yes, it’s the reason I’ve saved her for last. I’ve never seen such spirit. I’ve debated keeping her for my own pleasure,” Luisdrawled.
“Ah, taming such a wild beauty would be heaven. May I touchher?”
Tomi sucked in a breath and glared at Francois, not having to fake the revulsion crawling across her skin like a thousand fire ants stinging her all at once. Her trembles turned into shakes and she dug her toes into the hard ground beneath her, attempting to get ananchor.
“You know the rules, no touching before buying,” Luis said as if he were amused by the man’srequest.
François chuckled, but his eyes burned with desire…and something darker. Something brutal and cruel. Tomi sent up a silent prayer that she could survive long enough to save herfriend.
“You’re a devil, Luis, but a brilliant businessman.” Then François looked directly at her, and she recoiled against Luis’s leg. “I hope I can afford you tonight. If I do, I’ll get my money’s worth out ofyou.”
François left and Tomi fought back the tears. How could she be here? She’d only seen things like this on TV. This really couldn’t behappening.
“Tomi, you’re crushing the fabric of my pants.” Luis tsked and pried her fingers off his calf. She let go with a violent shudder, ashamed of hercowardice.
“Your instincts are excellent, Tomi. François might appear angelic, but his tastes are verysadistic.”
Oh, God. Oh, God please get her out ofthis.
A crowd of men was filing down the staircase, returning to their seats. Tomi looked at each of their faces, hoping beyond hope that there was a sympathetic gaze in the room, but she found none. The satisfied smiles on their faces exudedanticipation.
She wasn’t supposed to be here. She should be on the beach in Mexico, enjoying margaritas with her best friend. All of this had happened because she’d forgotten herpassport.
Her father had always warned her that her lack of planning and uncontrollable ways would get her in trouble one day. Turned out he’d beenright.
The crowd on the staircase was thinning out. Despite knowing it was hopeless, she continued to search the men’sfaces.
And then she sawhim.
ColeFury.
Her heart stopped beating, overloaded with joy. His tight shirt showed off massive biceps and hinted at the washboard stomach underneath. Hard-packed muscled had replaced his lean athletic figure from high school. His boyishly charming smile and smooth cheeks flattened into a granite jaw coated with a scrub of five o'clock shadow that made him appear sinister andsexy.
The Cole of her past had been charming and handsome. The Cole of her present was too hard to call charming. His features too intense. The combo of thickly corded shoulders, cropped midnight hair and tanned skin was nothing short of devastating to hersenses.
As if tapped by some invisible finger, Cole turned and caught her desperate stare. He blinked, gave her a distant once over and then gave her hisback.
Her stomach bottomed out and crashed into the floor. He'd recognized her and dismissed her. Seeing Cole had brought on such a rush of hope, that when he turned away, she'd crashed back to hell with the speed of a clipped bird dropping out of thesky.
Help! She screamed in hermind.
He was laughing with the man walking next to him, turned down the isle mid-way up the stairs and never looked back. Tomi fell back on her heels, stunned. He’d recognized her and dismissedher.
Just like he should have after what you did tohim.
